Nancy Allen

September 3, 1932 - August 18, 2010

When Nancy Allen walked into the room, those in her company felt energy, an enthusiastic spontaneity. This was just one example of who Nancy was and how she impacted those around her. Nancy was a clever and gregarious person who always sought out the finest attributes in other people. It was as if Nancy wanted to share all of their experiences, revel in their lives and celebrate their discoveries. Nancy was tireless and had boundless enthusiasm that would serve her well throughout her life.

She was the daughter of Money and Mable Lyons. Nancy was raised in Wrights, West Virginia. Always at the ready with a good joke, she grew up to be quite a humorous person. While some who knew Nancy might describe her as an idealist, her friends and family understood well that Nancy was always in pursuit of life's endless possibilities and opportunities available to her.

Nancy was raised with two siblings. She had two sisters, Janice and Loretta. Nancy was very accepting and supportive of her family. She was perceived as the central person in her family in terms of keeping communication open between the family members. Whenever discord or tension arose within the home, Nancy was typically the member who brought about resolution and harmony. These traits served Nancy well in her adult life and, along with her wit, outgoing personality, and understanding of others, drew the admiration of many who knew her.

Nancy's skill at "building bridges" played an important role in her ability to make her new family happy. She was quite sensitive towards Charles's needs, showing her constant concern and fondness. Nancy was tenderhearted and sensitive, qualities that served her well in helping to nurture her family.

Nancy was a natural and creative parent who was willing to provide her family with all sorts of new and interesting experiences. For Nancy, parenting was a particularly enjoyable and pleasurable part of her life. Every activity, from chores to bedtime routines, became a game in the Allen home. Nancy's skill at understanding her children's feelings, her sensitivity to their needs, and her gift for gentle persuasion enabled her to find novel solutions to any problem or situation that might crop up. Nancy was blessed with four children: Charles, Deborah, Joseph and Michelle. They were also blessed with six grandchildrenand two great-grandchildren, Tanya, Lauren, Alex, Joseph, Christian and Riley and two great-grandchildren, Tatyana and Joshua.

She is survived by her children, Charles, Deborah, Joseph and Michelle, her grandchildren: Tanya, Lauren, Alex, Joseph, Christian and Riley and two great-grandchildren, Tatyana and Joshua. Services will be held at Forest Lawn South Funeral Home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Visitation will be Saturday, August 21, 2010 from 5-8pm. Funeral Service wil be held on Sunday, August 22, 2010 at 2:00pm followed by the Interment. Nancy will be laid to rest in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

There was always a certain style and inventiveness to Nancy. She was a dynamic, self-expressive person who was forever looking to celebrate the endless possibilities life had to offer. She had a knack for being clever, creative and witty, and for others, was a joy to be around. While she was often fiercely independent, it seemed as if many others looked to Nancy Allen for inspiration, leadership, wisdom and even courage. Nancy was always more than willing to share life's experiences with her loved ones.